# NTSB CHI71AC025: Piper PA-31A, N6637L, Fort Wayne, IN, October 20, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 20, 1970
- Place: Fort Wayne, IN · FORT WAYNE, IN
- Location: 41.1306° N, 85.1289° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Wayne, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1306&lon=-85.1289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI71AC025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71AC025-201433

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1655  70/10/20   FORT WAYNE,IND      PIPER PA-31A        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 1545
        TIME - 1138                    N6637L              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 495 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SMITH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHARLOTTE,MICH              FORT WAYNE,IND
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       50
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BELOW PUBLISHED APCH MIN. LOST CTL DURING STEEP LOW ALT TURN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6637L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6637L-1971-01-27), registration cancelled 1971-01-27, S/N 31-575, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31A
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Smith

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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